2008 Lexus LS600h L Review

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD
WITH CAREY RUSS

2008 Lexus LS600h L

For an automaker, a top-of-the-line premium luxury car is a
statement of prowess in desirability, style, comfort, and technology. For
an upscale European brand, that means a long-wheelbase V12-powered sedan
built with the finest materials, and as much by the hands of skilled
craftsmen as is possible in this mechanized age. Such cars showcase the
most advanced engine and chassis technology, and the newest convenience and
luxury features.

Before the debut of the fourth-generation Lexus LS for model
year 2007, the Japanese did not compete in that class. When the newest LS
was introduced, like its German and English competitors in both regular-
and long-wheelbase models, it was announced that the flagship would be a
little different.

It would be a hybrid.

And not with the customary V12, but with a new 5.0-liter V8
gasoline engine and the most advanced iteration of parent Toyota's full
hybrid system. As the regular LS is a front-engined, rear-wheel drive car,
the hybrid features full-time mechanical all-wheel drive, not the
hybrid-front, electric-rear system used in the RX 400h and Toyota
Highlander hybrids. There are two motor-generator (MG) units. MG1 serves as
the starter motor, and also generates electricity to be stored in the
288-volt nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack. It can also power MG2,
the traction motor, which in generator mode charges the battery pack and
slows the car through regenerative braking. Being a full hybrid, the LS
600h L can also operate as an electric vehicle at low speeds and low rates
of acceleration, such as are encountered when driving in slow traffic or in
a parking lot. As in other Toyota family hybrids, gasoline engine and
electric motor power gets to the wheels through a computer-controlled
continuously-variable transmission. Here, it has eight software-programmed
"speeds" in manual mode, for performance driving.

And performance driving is a distinct possibility. With a peak
combined output of 438 horsepower, the LS600h L boasts performance on a par
with the V12 competition, while using considerably less fuel. During my
week with the car, I averaged 18 mpg around town, and 21 with 120 miles of
highway travel added at real-world speeds. Not bad at all for a 5,000-pound
luxury car that can also accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a very sporty 5.5
seconds. Midrange acceleration, from 50 through 70 mph typical of American
highway driving, is especially strong at about 3.5 seconds.

That shouldn't be a surprise, as torque is a necessity for quick
acceleration, and an electric motor makes its maximum torque as soon as it
starts to turn. MG2 adds is considerable but not-disclosed amount, and its
221 horsepower, to the 5.0-liter V8's 398 hp (at 6400 rpm) and 385 lb-ft
(at 4000 rpm) when instant acceleration is required. A large contribution
to the 600h's excellent fuel economy comes from its gearing - in "D" at 70
mph, the engine is barely working, at about 1500 rpm. Even then, in D, a
sharp press on the right pedal results in strong acceleration, with no
undue hesitation. Selecting the appropriate manual virtual gear brings the
revs, and the engine power available, up even more. This is a seriously
quick machine when such performance is required.

Being a hybrid and being a Lexus, a smooth, quiet driving
experience is expected. And delivered, as with the engine off, in electric
operation, there is no drivetrain noise at all. There is barely more with
the engine running, except for a mellow and melodious V8 growl under full
throttle. Transitions between gas, gas-electric hybrid, and electric modes
are much less noticeable than in other Toyota-family hybrids. Throttle
response is as close to that of a straight gasoline car as possible. There
are three driver-selectable electronic throttle modes - "Snow", with
decreased response to throttle inputs for easier driving in slippery
conditions, normal hybrid, and "Power", which gives more throttle input for
a given amount of pedal movement.

As in the non-hybrid long-wheelbase LS 460 L, the LS 600h has a
fully-independent multilink suspension with electronically-controlled air
springs. It's an active, multi-mode system, with soft "Comfort" mode for a
traditional American feel, a default normal mode that is a touch firmer,
and a European-oriented "Sport" mode. I kept it in Sport most of the time,
with no lack of comfort. For the sport-oriented potential buyer, active
stabilizer bars are available, to further reduce body roll when cornering
in a spirited manner.

Added to the powerful but economical drivetrain and capable,
comfortable chassis to make the LS 600h ideal for long-distance driving in
style and comfort is the superb interior. Lexuses are already know for
being quiet, and this one is the quietest yet. Materials, build quality,
and craftsmanship are benchmarks, and, both inside and out, with plenty of
skilled human hand assembly and inspection supplementing the robots.
Anything that could conceivably be power-operated for assistance is, the
leather and wood used for seating and trim are of the highest quality, and
the design is relaxing. Gauges are electroluminescent "Optitron", easily
visible in all light, and the information/navigation system/rearview and
Advanced Parking Guidance System (APGS - yes, self-parking in the right
conditions) screen is thin film transistor (TFT) for high resolution and
brightness. LEDs are used for most interior illumination. Almost all
comfort features, gizmos, and gadgets that are available in the premium
luxury class are standard equipment, including the nav system, a Mark
Levinson audio system, and a 60 GB hard disk for nav data and downloads
from the CD player.

All of the long-wheelbase 4.72-inch stretch is in rear-seat legroom. If
the standard three-place bench is not luxurious enough, there is the
Premium Package, with heated and cooled twin rear power seats, rear side
airbags, and APGS. Premium Package II adds four-zone climate control, a
rear-seat DVD entertainment system, power door sunshades (the better to
watch movies...) and more wood trim. That was in my test car, for an extra
Yaris, er $12,000. The ultimate in motoring decadence would be the
Executive Package, with all of that above plus a right rear seat with power
reclining to 45 degrees with a multifunction massager and leg rest plus
wood-trimmed tray tables. Up to that point, no chauffeur required, as the
LS 600h L is a wonderful car to drive. But with the back-seat spa, even I
would leave the driving to someone else.

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